Foreign exchange risk

What is foreign exchange risk?

Foreign exchange risk refers to the possible loss of international financial transactions due to currency fluctuations. Also known as currency risk, foreign exchange risk and exchange rate risk, it describes the likelihood that the value of an investment may decline due to changes in the relative value of the currencies involved. Investors may be exposed to jurisdictional risk in the form of foreign exchange risk.

Where does foreign exchange risk come from?

Foreign exchange risk arises when a company receives payments in one currency but pays fees in another. From the importer's point of view, the risk is that the foreign currency will appreciate because it means they will have to pay more for the imported goods. Instead, for exporters, the risk is that the foreign currency will depreciate against the Canadian dollar. If the exporter's foreign currency depreciates after selling to an international customer, the exporter's Canadian dollar will end up being lower than expected.

Companies are also exposed to foreign exchange risk when they create price lists at the start of the season, long before they invoice foreign customers, or when infrastructure projects require payment after each step of the project is completed. Once a formal agreement is reached with a supplier or customer, the company is at risk.

There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for reducing foreign exchange risk. A company's exposure is affected by many factors, including the volume of imports and exports, whether payment is made at the time of sale or at a later date, the currencies involved, and the countries where customers and suppliers are located.

All currencies fluctuate in value, and the Canadian dollar is no exception. Decisions about major interest rates by Canadian banks, energy prices, geopolitical conflicts, foreign acquisitions of Canadian businesses and many other factors can affect the value of our currency. Predicting currency movements is very difficult, and analysts' forecasts are not always reliable. That's why it's so important for companies to have policies in place to minimize this risk and protect their profitability.

Characteristics of foreign currency export sales

Applicability
Recommended for (a) highly competitive markets and (b) when foreign buyers insist on buying in local currency

Risk
Exporters are at risk of exchange rate losses unless foreign exchange risk management techniques are used

Advantage
Enhanced export sales terms to help exporters remain competitive
Reduce the risk of non-payment due to local currency devaluation

Shortcoming
The cost of using certain foreign exchange risk management techniques Foreign Exchange Risk Management
burden

Foreign exchange risk is divided into three categories:

Transaction Risk: This is the risk a company faces when purchasing products from a company located in another country. Product prices will be in the selling company's currency. If the selling firm's currency appreciates relative to the buying firm's currency, the firm making the purchase will have to make a larger payment in its base currency to reach the contract price.

Conversion risk: A parent company with a subsidiary in another country may face losses when the subsidiary's financial statements (which will be denominated in that country's currency) must be converted back to the parent's currency.

Economic Risk: Also known as forecast risk, refers to the continued exposure of a company's market value to the risk of inevitable currency fluctuations.
Companies exposed to foreign exchange risk can implement hedging strategies to reduce this risk. This often involves forward contracts, options and other exotic financial products that, if done right, can protect companies from unwanted foreign exchange fluctuations.

Currency Exchange Tips

Please be aware of any issues with currency exchange. Not all currencies can be freely or quickly converted into dollars. Fortunately, the U.S. dollar is widely accepted as an international trade currency, and U.S. companies can often ensure payments are made in U.S. dollars.
If the buyer requires payment in a foreign currency, you should consult an international banker before negotiating a sales contract. Banks can advise on any foreign exchange risk associated with a particular currency. The most direct way to hedge foreign exchange risk is forward contracts, which enable exporters to sell a certain amount of foreign currency at a pre-agreed exchange rate, with a delivery date ranging from 3 days to 1 year in the future.
If you can do business entirely in U.S. dollars, you may be able to avoid many of the difficulties and problems associated with currency exchange.

What is the Low Sulphur Surcharge

The low sulphur surcharge (LSS), low sulphur fuel surcharge or low sulphur fuel surcharge (LSF) is known to be derived from regulations originally agreed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2012 to reduce sulphur fuel emissions in ports and densely populated The coastline was burnt by cargo ships. Fuels with high sulfur content result in large emissions of sulfur dioxide, which are known to be harmful to public health.
From January 1, 2015, carriers will require ships passing through designated Emission Control Areas (ECAs) to use fuel with a sulphur content of 0.1% or less, a significant reduction from the 1.0% concentration fuel currently used in maritime transport . The Emission Control Area (ECA) to be enforced in 2015 includes the Baltic Sea, the English Channel, the North Sea, and an area 200 nautical miles from the coast of the United States and Canada.

The low sulphur surcharge is a surcharge imposed by the line to cover costs associated with the use of low sulphur fuels compliant with the IMO 2020 sulphur cap.
Despite the use of the term, different shipping lines have referred to it by different names - Low Sulphur Surcharge (LSS), Green Fuel Surcharge (GFS), Emission Control Area Surcharge (ECA), various amounts of low Sulphur Fuel Surcharge (LSF). ! !
All routes are said to be preparing to impose mandatory surcharges in addition to freight and other surcharges in 2019 on all trade routes, especially the ECA area.

Should the low sulphur surcharge be included in the dutiable value?

Article 5 of the "Measures of the Customs of the People's Republic of China on Examination and Approval of the Dutiable Value of Imported and Exported Goods" stipulates that the customs value of imported goods shall be reviewed and determined by the customs on the basis of the transaction value of the goods, and shall include the time from the arrival of the goods to the place of import within the territory of the People's Republic of China. Transportation before unloading and related costs, insurance. Article 35 stipulates that the transportation of imported goods and related expenses shall be calculated according to the expenses actually paid or payable by the buyer.

The low sulphur surcharge is a fee charged by the logistics provider to the relevant parties for the use of low sulphur fuel oil for its ships in the emission control area, which is closely related to the transportation process and is It happened before, so it belongs to the transportation and related expenses described in the "Measures of the Customs of the People's Republic of China on the Verification of the Dutiable Value of Imported and Exported Goods".

Under normal circumstances, if the transaction method of imported goods adopts FOB (free on board) terms, and the low-sulfur surcharge is clearly borne by the consignee of the imported goods, it should be included in the dutiable value of the goods and truthfully declared to the customs. If the transaction method of imported goods is CIF or CNF (cost plus freight) terms, it needs to be determined according to the specific agreement between the buyer and the seller. If it has been included in the freight and related expenses paid by the foreign seller, it will not be included in the customs value; such as If it is not included in the freight and related expenses paid by the foreign seller, and is actually borne by the consignee of the imported goods, it should be included in the dutiable value of the goods and must be truthfully declared to the customs.

What to pay attention to when exporting to India by sea

1. Exporting to India: Challenges

U.S. exporters must be aware of certain obstacles when exporting to India. But with careful planning and assistance from agencies like US Business Services, exporters of all sizes can definitely succeed in the Indian market. According to the National Business Guide for India, the challenges include:
High tariffs and protectionist policies
Exporters and investors face an opaque and often unpredictable regulatory and tariff regime. xxx
price sensitivity
Even before the economic slowdown and the pandemic, Indian companies and consumers were extremely price-sensitive.

Infrastructure
Inadequate road, rail, port, airport, education, power grid and telecommunications infrastructure are major obstacles to the country's efforts to achieve strong economic growth. India's continued urbanization and rising incomes have led to increased demand for improved infrastructure to provide public services and sustain economic growth.

Data localization requirements and e-commerce restrictions
The Indian government is aggressively pursuing a policy of requiring Indian data to be processed and stored only in India, which has severely impacted the business of many US companies. The proposed data protection bill currently being passed through the Indian legislature will affect a wide range of businesses in India and internationally. Changes to laws on what and how e-commerce companies can sell online are an unexpected blow to the U.S. online giant. The new law limits discounts for e-commerce companies and prohibits companies from selling products from companies they affiliate or own.

Local content requirements
In specific sectors, including information and communication technology (ICT), electronics and solar energy, the Indian government is seeking local content requirements to stimulate an increase in the contribution of manufacturing to GDP. These policies have had a negative impact on U.S. exporters.

State power
Companies should be prepared to face the different business and economic conditions in India's 29 states and 7 federal territories. Power and decision-making in India is decentralized, with major differences at the state level in terms of political leadership, quality of governance, regulations, taxation, industrial relations and education levels.

Intellectual Property (IP)
India is one of the most challenging major economies in the world in terms of intellectual property protection and enforcement.

customs clearance - TJ

2. Customs regulations

First of all, all goods transferred to the inland freight station in India must be transported by the shipping company, and the final destination column of the bill of lading and manifest must be filled in as the inland point. Otherwise, it is necessary to dig out the box at the port or pay a high fee for changing the manifest before transshipment to the inland.

Secondly, after the goods arrive at the port, they can be stored in the customs warehouse for 30 days. After 30 days, the customs will issue a notice of delivery to the importer. If the importer cannot pick up the goods on time for some reason, he can apply to the customs for an extension as needed. If the Indian buyer does not apply for an extension, the exporter's goods will be auctioned after 30 days of storage in customs.

3. Customs clearance

After unloading (usually within 3 days), the importer or its agent must first fill in the Bill of Entry in quadruplicate. The first and second pages are retained by the customs, the third page is retained by the importer, and the fourth page is retained by the bank where the importer pays the tax. Otherwise, high detention fees must be paid to the port authority or airport authority.

4. Return regulations

Indian Customs stipulates that the exporter needs to provide the original importer's certificate of abandonment of the goods, the relevant delivery certificate and the exporter's request for return letters and telegrams, and entrust the shipping agent to complete the return procedures after paying the port storage fees, agency fees and other reasonable fees.

If the importer is unwilling to issue the exporter with the certificate of rejection of the goods, the exporter can rely on the letter of the importer's refusal to pay or take delivery or the letter of the importer's non-payment redemption provided by the bank or the shipping agent, the relevant delivery certificate and the seller's request. The letter and telegram for the return of the goods shall be entrusted to the shipping agent to directly submit the return request to the relevant Indian port customs and go through the relevant procedures.

Easily handle international returns

If you sell online, you will inevitably be rewarded. While many online sellers see international sales as a one-way ticket to business growth, few seem to think about international returns.
While cross-border trade is a key focus for online retailers looking to expand sales, it also faces challenges. Specifically, one of the main reasons small and midsize companies shy away from international sales is the fear of returns.
That said, the process is getting easier as governments and postal service operators work together to optimize cross-border e-commerce deliveries and returns.

Take care of taxes and duties

One of the biggest challenges mentioned by small businesses when dealing with international returns is managing taxes and duties. This is because different countries—even states, provinces, republics, and territories—have unique tax laws. Failure to properly calculate taxes can result in delayed shipments, or worse, forfeitures.
In some cases, taxation can be a simple process. For example, there are no taxes or duties on items under $40 shipped from the U.S. to Canada. Others may be more complex and the tools available are invaluable for estimating these potential costs.

Why are products being returned?

A lower rate of return means more profit and more satisfied customers. That's why it's important to find out why a product was returned. Here are some common reasons:

  • Customer receives wrong product or wrong size
  • Product does not match product description
  • Damage to the customer when the order arrives

Of course, the reasons may vary depending on what you sell, your industry, and many other factors.

5 Tips for Handling International Returns

1. Let your customers choose how to return

The first and easiest option for you is to leave the return method to your customers. The only thing that is fixed is the address your client has to send to (that is, your address).
Your customers choose which carrier to ship with and which delivery point to ship the package to. However, this is the least customer friendly solution, so it may cost you switching costs in international online stores.
The advantage is that once you receive the product, you can evaluate it yourself and add it back to your inventory faster.
As an online retailer, you are not reimbursed for returns.
However, if the customer returns their entire order (within the EU), you will have to reimburse the outbound shipping. In addition to that, you can choose whether to let your customers pay for returns. You can make this return method more customer-friendly.
But how?
Extend the return period. Your customers will then become attached to the product or care less about it. This also reduces the chance of returns.

2. Arrangements with International Carriers

If you're shipping a lot, including returns, you can make a lot of deals with international carriers.
A good example is fashion chain Zalando, which has a partnership with DHL for both shipping and returns. By making a custom arrangement with a carrier, you can often not only discuss lower rates, but also get more services from the carrier, such as pickups and returns.
Furthermore, with Sendcloud you can offer multiple shipping methods and optimal integration with local and international carriers. In this way, you can provide a more efficient and budget-friendly return process.

3. Subtly offset return costs for your customers

Our research shows that 74% of European consumers would not reorder from an online store if they had to pay for the return themselves. 77% agree that free returns are more convincing to order from online stores more frequently.
However, if you don't want to incur the return costs yourself but still want some form of service, you have another option. You can add a return label to your order and deduct the return fee from your order refund. This method is allowed since you do not need to be reimbursed for returns.
This is great for customers because they don't have to pay immediately when they return the package. This eases the pain of returns, especially the cost of returns.
More importantly, it makes returns a little easier. 37% of European consumers say they would reorder from an online store if they were offered a quick and easy return process.
So it's also in your favor: your customers will come back to you faster thanks to your easy return policy.

4. Outsource international returns to a local party

Have you ever thought about processing returns through your local party? By doing this, you allow customers to return their products to the party you are working with in the country of sale.
This party specialises in handling consignment/returns and therefore ensures that processes, including administration, run as efficiently as possible.
When there are many packages, the parties can return to your warehouse in large quantities, which is cost-effective. Working in this way also allows you to pay back your customers faster, as the product can be received and evaluated faster locally.
This option is relatively expensive because you are doing external collaboration. However, if you receive a lot of returns (like fashion), it can help you save as much as possible.
Create clear protocols and ensure good connections between your online store, inventory and external parties. When you receive a return notification for a product, you can immediately refund the customer or ship a new product, even before your warehouse receives the order.

5. Easily process returns for you and your customers

Would you rather take your online store's returns process into your own hands?
Then use smart solutions to process returns more efficiently. With the Sendcloud returns portal, you can provide your customers with a simple and smooth returns process.
You can offer other refund options and let your customers decide how to return them using flexible returns.

Invisible ‘killer’ microplastics

What are microplastics?

Microplastics generally refer to plastic particles between 0.33 mm and 5 mm in size [1]. Microplastics can come from a variety of sources, including microbeads from personal care products; fibers from synthetic clothing; pre-manufactured granules and powders; and fragments that degrade from larger plastic products. These smaller plastic particles can be ingested by aquatic organisms. ACC's Plastics Division and its member companies work to better understand the potential role of microplastics in the marine environment.

Multiple studies have shown that microplastics in the marine environment can absorb persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Microplastics are small in size, but have a very large specific surface area, and have a strong ability to adsorb pollutants in the environment. Why is this?

Specific surface area refers to the total area possessed by a unit volume of material. Assuming that the microplastic is a cube, it is continuously cut, but the total volume remains unchanged. It can be found that the smaller the microplastic is cut, the larger the total contact area. The larger the contact area, the more adsorption sites, and the larger the adsorption capacity, so the microplastics have strong adsorption.

Why are microplastics bad?

We've known for years that microplastics are problematic, but a growing body of research continues to highlight just how much they affect the environment and our health. Microplastics are extremely persistent, which means it is nearly impossible to remove them from the environment in which they accumulate. Because of their persistence and the chemicals that make them up, research suggests they can be very harmful to the organisms they come into contact with, including causing reduced feeding, poisoning, and increased mortality. They also tend to facilitate the transfer of contaminants along the food chain, with potentially serious consequences for human health. Scientists warn that the situation is out of control. They found microplastics almost everywhere they looked: on mountains, in the ocean, in Arctic sea ice, and in our air, drinking water and bodies.

Where exactly do microplastics come from?

On the one hand, there is plastic waste, which is formed by physical, chemical and biological decomposition, which is secondary microplastics. Another major source is the friction particles such as polyethylene and polypropylene added in our daily use of toiletries, such as facial cleansers, toothpaste, and scrubs, which are primary microplastics. There may be more than 300,000 plastic microbeads in just one scrub. Microplastics eventually flow into the sea continuously. It is estimated that the amount of sediments on the seabed around the world has reached tens of millions of tons. It is imperative to control microplastics!

How to reduce microplastics?

Wastewater and drinking water treatment is very effective in removing microplastics. Research, albeit limited, has shown that they can remove more than 90 percent of microplastics.
But there is also a lot that individuals can do to reduce microplastics. Perhaps the most important step is to change the way we think and behave.
Modern lifestyles are full of single-use plastic items such as straws and cups. People think we use plastic cutlery for an average of three minutes at a time, but it remains in the environment for hundreds of years. Single-use plastics, including food packaging, are also one of the biggest contributors to plastic pollution.
Thinking about how plastic is made and what happens to it after it's used makes a difference.

"We need to ask ourselves if we really need to use certain types of plastic, like disposable forks," Alex said. "If we do, we need to question how we are responsible for it and how we can best handle it. It only takes a few seconds.

'An example of this is accidental littering. People might throw garbage into a full bin thinking they've done their part and the garbage collectors will take it from there, but all it takes is a gust of wind to blow it down and you've got Garbage everywhere. So while it may be well-intentioned, it is not a responsible disposal.

"Responsible disposal may be that you end up taking your rubbish home so you can properly recycle it. Every situation and individual is different.

Does international express need customs clearance?

What is International Express?

International express (parcel), parcels sent by international express, and parcels delivered from China to the United States, Japan, South Korea, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and other countries can be called international parcels. International parcels need to be transported across borders, and any All cross-border transportation requires customs clearance, including export customs clearance and import customs clearance.

For example, if you send a package from China to the United States, you need to clear customs when you leave the country, and you need to be inspected, checked, and inspected by customs staff before the goods can be loaded onto an airplane or a ship at the dock. After the goods are loaded on the means of transportation, international transportation begins, and they are delivered to ports or airports in the United States. After arriving at a U.S. port or airport, it needs to be unloaded for customs clearance, and only after customs clearance can the terminal be transported.

That is to say, when we send international parcels, we must go through customs clearance, and we have to go through two customs clearances, one for the exporting country’s export clearance and the other for the destination country’s import clearance.

Does it have to be officially reported?

First of all, if the inbound and outbound goods of individuals exceed the prescribed limit, they should go through the return procedures or go through the customs clearance procedures in accordance with the regulations of the goods. However, if there is only one item in the parcel and it is inseparable, although it exceeds the specified limit, if it is indeed for personal use after the customs review, it can go through the customs clearance procedures according to the regulations on personal items. That is to say, express declaration can be made, and the express company can declare directly and quickly clear customs.

However, if the import and export of commercial mail, or the amount/quantity of products exceeding the reasonable range for self-use, should go through customs clearance procedures in accordance with the provisions of the goods.

1. International express customs clearance process

The normal international express customs clearance process is: customs declaration - goods inspection - customs duties - release. Under normal circumstances, imported goods are basically subject to customs duties and value-added tax. According to the customs code HS CODE, the tax point is How many.

2. What documents are required for customs clearance?

Customs clearance mainly requires three documents, one is the declaration document, which needs to provide various information of the item, including weight, quantity, value, material, use, etc. A commercial invoice is also required to prove the value of the goods. In addition, there are some special certification documents, live products, liquids, pure batteries, brand items, etc., all require certification documents.

3. What are the customs clearance methods?

The customs clearance methods include general trade customs clearance, express customs clearance, etc. Express delivery generally takes the express channel, unless the value or quantity is exceeded, it will be transferred to general trade.

General trade customs clearance is a traditional customs clearance mode with low customs clearance efficiency, but it is suitable for customs clearance of large-volume, high-value goods, and can enjoy export tax rebates.

Express customs clearance is also known as express customs declaration, express customs declaration. Express customs declaration refers to the way of submitting express quotations (KJ1, KJ2, KJ3 declarations, etc.) to the customs in the name of express companies, and customs clearance of goods in the form of express. The express customs clearance efficiency is relatively high, and the express company can directly help the shipper to solve various matters such as customs clearance and storage, but it is not suitable for the customs clearance operation of large quantities of goods.

In which case, what kind of goods are most suitable for import by express customs declaration (express customs declaration)?

1). Small bulk cargo, a small amount of samples and advertising materials, etc.;
2). Lack of various products from certain units (such as no 3C certification);
3). Urgent goods that are too late to go through the customs clearance procedures for trade;
4) Various products that want to save costs and do not need VAT tickets;
5). Items for personal use.

Bonded Factory Goods Clearance

What is a bonded factory?

A bonded factory is a bonded area licensed by the person in charge of the customs to manufacture processing of foreign and domestic goods as raw materials. The bonded factory system is one of the main export support measures of the customs rebate system. Foreign goods brought into a bonded factory, manufactured and processed while retaining customs duties. Therefore, exports can be promoted by reducing the financial burden of enterprises and simplifying customs clearance procedures to improve the international competitiveness of export commodities.

Customs clearance procedures for bonded factory goods

1. Goods shipped to bonded factories

1.1 Import from abroad

When a bonded factory imports raw materials, it should prepare a raw material import application (B6) and go through customs declaration procedures in accordance with the procedures applicable to ordinary goods. If the customs deems it necessary, it may send customs personnel to the location of the bonded factory to inspect the imported raw materials.

1.2 Import from bonded area

1.2.1 For the bonded goods sold by enterprises in export processing zones, science and technology parks or other bonded factories to the bonded factories, the buyer and the seller shall jointly issue a declaration with necessary documents (B2, invoice, packing list) to declare to the customs goods. They can apply to customs on a monthly basis for permission to declare.

1.2.2 For the goods supplied by the bonded warehouse to the bonded factory, the owner or the manifest holder shall prepare the necessary documents (D7) to declare the goods to the customs, and the warehouse operator and the customs supervisor can confirm the mark and quantity according to the customs declaration or bill of lading After that, it will be shipped from the warehouse.

1.2.3 For the goods sold from the self-provided bonded warehouse to the bonded factory, the buyer and the seller shall jointly prepare a customs declaration form (D7), attaching the documents required for the goods to be declared at the customs. Only after confirming the identification and quantity with the customs clearance or bill of lading, the goods can be shipped from the warehouse. They can apply to customs on a monthly basis for permission to declare.

1.2.4 For the goods provided by the logistics center to the bonded factory, the factory and the center shall jointly prepare a declaration form (D7) and attach the necessary documents, and the center shall declare the goods to the customs electronically. After customs clearance, the goods can be delivered. They can apply to customs on a monthly basis for permission to declare.

1.3 Imports from taxable areas

The processing raw materials sold by domestic suppliers to bonded factories need to be deducted or refunded for import duties and taxes. When the raw materials enter the bonded factory, the buyer and seller should prepare and sign the application form for import and export of raw materials (B1) together, together with the invoice, packing Form, etc., and report to the competent customs for approval. Raw materials are allowed to enter the factory and be recorded. The competent customs shall, within 20 days from the date of approving the application, approve and issue a duplicate application to domestic suppliers as export goods as evidence for applying for tax refund and tax credit.

2 .Goods shipped from bonded factories

2.1 Courtiers bound for abroad

When a bonded factory exports products, it should prepare a product export application form (B9), and indicate the page number and reference number of the relevant "Detailed Table of Raw Material Usage per Unit" in it. "With the approval of the supervisory customs, (when the customs at the export port deems it necessary, the bonded factory may be required to provide a copy of the approved list of raw material usage per unit product") or the reference number of the relevant application submitted or received to the supervisory customs, if the annex Awaiting approval and filing with customs at the port of export for customs clearance in accordance with the procedures applicable to the export of general goods.

2.2 When the bonded goods are sold to enterprises in science and technology parks or export enterprises in export processing zones or other bonded factories for further processing and export, the bonded factory that sells the goods and the buyer shall jointly prepare an application (B2) for the import and export of such bonded goods, together with Invoices, packing lists, approval documents issued by the competent department of the bonded area and other related documents shall be filed with the supervising customs or the local customs branch for customs clearance at the seller's office.

2.3 Driving to the taxable area

2.3.1 For further processing and export to export processing plants eligible for credit recording of import duties and taxes payable:

The buyer and the seller should jointly prepare an export/import application (G2) for the deep-processed products processed and sold in the bonded factory, export to the export processing factory that meets the taxable amount for record, and file with the relevant documents such as invoices, packing lists, etc., at the bonded factory. Before leaving the factory, go through import duties, credit purchase tax and release procedures with the supervision customs. Bonded factories can submit monthly reports. Import duties and taxes on credit purchases for the above-mentioned export processing plants shall be handled in accordance with the "Administrative Measures for Import Duties and Tax Credits or Refunds of Raw Materials Used in Exported Products",

2.3.2 For products sold to domestic companies:

In principle, the products of bonded factories are exported. If domestic sales are required, an application shall be made to the competent customs for approval. If the products processed by the bonded factory are approved to be sold domestically, the bonded factory alone or jointly with the buyer prepares an application for "import of foreign goods" (G2); and when the above application is submitted, the customs supervision will supplement and verify the import tariff according to the form and state of the product when it leaves the factory. The product may not be released until the factory.

Enterprises purchasing the products for domestic sale may apply to the supervisory customs to choose one of the following methods to calculate and collect the import tariffs of the products. Once selected, they cannot be changed within one year, but more than 50% of the materials used for assembly tile-shaped intermediate products are manufactured for domestic sales. product, the import duty of the product shall be levied at the rate applicable to the dutiable value of the product.

Guidelines for Bonded Warehouses, Bonded Factories, and Export Supervision Warehouses

warehouse

Bonded supervision place is one of the important forms of customs bonded system. There are several common modes of bonded warehouse, export supervision warehouse, bonded factory and bonded logistics center. With so many similar concepts, can you tell them apart? Today, TJ chinafreight will introduce these concepts and related tax refund policies to you.

Bonded warehouse

A bonded warehouse is a place used to store and process goods imported into new markets. Goods stored in bonded warehouses are not subject to customs duties (a type of tax). Any applicable customs duties shall be paid when the goods are transported to the next destination. Bonded warehouses can be owned by governments or private companies, helping to improve inventory and cash flow efficiency. Using a bonded warehouse means that goods can be moved closer to their final destination, and payment of duties can be deferred until the product is moved. The system provides significant benefits for commercial transactions across different jurisdictions. For organizations importing and exporting goods, bonded warehouses can be used to eliminate the need to pay customs duties, further increasing efficiency. The purpose and structure of a bonded warehouse varies from country to country.

Bonded Factory

A bonded factory is a factory or enterprise that has been approved by the customs and specialized in processing and manufacturing re-exported products with bonded imported materials. The materials and parts imported by the bonded factories for the production of export products are customs bonded goods, and the customs will fully bond them. After the processed and manufactured finished products are exported, the imported materials and parts will be exempted from import duties, import value-added tax and consumption tax according to the actual consumption.

Export supervision warehouse

The export supervision warehouse refers to the special customs supervision warehouse that stores goods that have gone through customs export formalities, carries out bonded logistics and distribution, and provides marketable value-added services. Including the export distribution warehouse (storing the actual exit of the export) and the internal transfer warehouse (storing the export and internal transfer).
Bonded warehouse refers to a warehouse dedicated to storing bonded goods and other goods that have not gone through customs formalities. Including public bonded warehouses, self-use bonded warehouses and special bonded warehouses (such as liquid dangerous goods bonded warehouses, material bonded warehouses, agency sales bonded warehouses, etc.).

Inbound and outbound cargo management between the logistics center and overseas. For goods entering and leaving between the logistics center and overseas, the customs in charge of the logistics center shall implement record entry and exit management. Goods entering the logistics center from abroad upon approval by the customs shall be bonded, office supplies, transportation, transportation tools, consumer goods, etc. for self-use imported from abroad, as well as imported machinery, loading and unloading equipment, management Equipment, etc., go through relevant procedures in accordance with the relevant regulations and tax policies of imported goods. When the goods stored in the bonded logistics center leave the logistics center and are finally exported to overseas, the customs shall implement the record management.

Management of incoming and outgoing goods between the logistics center and areas outside the domestic bonded supervision area. The goods entering the logistics center are deemed to be imported, and the import declaration procedures shall be handled according to the actual trade mode and actual status of the goods; the goods entering the logistics center from the territory are deemed to be exported, and the domestic consignor shall go through the export declaration procedures, and can enjoy the refund of export goods (exemption). tax policy.

Ship Delay Warning! Carry out military missions in multiple sea areas and continue to ban navigation

The Maritime Safety Administration of the People's Republic of China recently issued an announcement that from March 30 to April 10, 2022, many sea areas such as the northern Yellow Sea, South China Sea, and Beibu Gulf of the Bohai Strait will be banned for military missions. It may have a certain impact on the shipping schedule of some ports, and the ships will open late and arrive late. Please be prepared for the cargo owner and forwarder.

1. Liaohang Police 34/22, performing military missions in the northern part of the Yellow Sea, Bohai Strait
According to the Dalian Maritime Safety Administration: The northern part of the Yellow Sea in the Bohai Strait will be held at 1600 on March 27 to 1600 on April 10
1) 38-51.7N 121-38.2E;
2) 38-34.2N 121-38.2E;
3) 38-33.9N 121-07.9E;
4) 38-48.2N 121-14.1E
Perform military tasks within the range of the points. No entry.

2. Guangdong Aviation Police 30/22, military exercise in the waters near Shanwei in the South China Sea
According to the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration: In the South China Sea, from 0800 on March 30 to 1800 on March 31, military exercises will be held in the sea area connected by the following four points:
(1) 22-40-00N 115-17-18E,
(2) 22-40-00N 115-23-18E,
(3) 22-34.00N 115-23-18E,
(4) 22-34.00N 115-17-18E.
Vessels are prohibited from entering.

3. Qionghang Police 0038/22, South China Sea Military Exercise
According to Hainan Maritime Safety Administration: South China Sea, from 0700 on March 30, 2022 to 1900 on April 1, at 19-23.10N 110-52.40E, 19-23.10N 110-56.52E, 19-19.67N 110-52.40 Military training is carried out in the water area connecting the points of E and 19-19.67N 110-56.52E, and it is forbidden to enter.

4. Qionghang Police 0036/22, Beibu Gulf live ammunition training
According to Hainan Maritime Safety Administration: Beibu Gulf, from 0700 on March 30th to 1800 on April 1st, will be at 19-48.00N/108-40.00E, 19-48.00N/108-46.00E, 19-42.00N/108 - 46.00E and 19-42.00N/108-40.00E points to connect the water area for live fire training. No entry.

5. Qionghang Police 34/22, Military Training in the South China Sea
According to Hainan Maritime Safety Administration: South China Sea, from 0730 on March 25, 2022 to 1800 on April 7 at 18-15.0N 110-10.0E, 18-15.0N 110-30.0E, 18-05.0N 110-30.0E Military training is carried out within the water area connecting the points of 18-05.0N 110-10.0E, and it is forbidden to enter.

6. Qionghang Police 33/22, Military Training in the South China Sea
According to Hainan Maritime Safety Administration: South China Sea, from 0900 on March 19, 2022 to 1800 on April 9 at 17-32.0N 108-16.0E, 17-32.0N 109-22.0E, 17-02.0N 109-22.0E , 17-02.0N 108-30.0E and 17-22.0N 108-16.0E military training is carried out within the waters connecting the points, and it is forbidden to enter.

I would like to remind that ships have passed through the above sea areas recently, which may cause some port ships to arrive late and sail later, and the sailing schedule may be delayed. To keep abreast of relevant information, please each owner and forwarder understand each other.

Risks and strategies of cross-border e-commerce going overseas to Japan under RCEP

On January 1, 2022, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) came into effect, marking the official launch of a free trade zone with the largest population, largest economic and trade scale, and great development potential in the world. It is worth noting that RCEP brings the two major economies of China and Japan into the same free trade framework for the first time, which will greatly promote the development of trade in goods between the two countries and affect the layout of industries and supply chains.
For cross-border e-commerce going overseas, the official entry into force of RCEP has further opened up the Japanese e-commerce market and pushed it into a new stage of development. However, the Japanese e-commerce market has limitations, and under the background of RCEP, my country's cross-border e-commerce will face a series of challenges such as customs, taxation, and personal information protection. solved problem.

Potential compliance risks of cross-border e-commerce going to Japan

Tax risk
The target markets of cross-border e-commerce companies going overseas include mature markets such as Europe, America, Japan and South Korea, as well as developing markets such as Southeast Asia. The tax systems of different countries are different, and they are constantly being updated and improved, which is different from the clear tax policy in China. Enterprises may lack understanding of the tax policy of the export destination, or there may be deviations in their understanding, which poses tax compliance challenges for cross-border e-commerce enterprises going overseas. In the process of cross-border e-commerce enterprises going overseas, tax compliance optimization is one of the things that cannot be avoided and need to be solved urgently.
From April 2020, the Japanese Customs announced that it will start to implement the reverse calculation method to levy tariffs on goods exported to Japan, which is usually called the "inverse algorithm". , not according to the amount declared by the importer, but the selling price through the seller's sales link, minus the various costs of the platform, and the import declaration price is verified by the Japanese customs. When the judgment is correct, the customer has the right to request the customer to revise the declared amount according to the reverse algorithm to pay tax. The original intention of adopting the inverse algorithm is to repair the existing tax loopholes, and its essence is to adjust the time node and verification method of tax collection.
In order to evade the inverse algorithm, some companies have adopted some illegal means, such as increasing the link price after customs clearance, and using other people's links to ship products on their behalf. However, the Japanese customs has a very high level of inspection of goods. If a false declaration is found by the customs, in addition to the conventional tax payment and delay in customs clearance, it will also increase the storage fee for the backlog of goods at the customs, resulting in longer logistics time for goods transportation. , bringing a burden to logistics costs, which in turn affects sales and reputation. Tax compliance is the general trend. Enterprises should abide by relevant overseas laws and regulations, abide by platform policies, and operate in compliance.

Customs clearance risk
Cross-border e-commerce has the advantages of online marketing, online transactions, and contactless delivery. Transaction information can cross the border through the Internet, but the physical goods that need to be delivered need to be inspected and supervised by the customs during transportation. If the goods are in violation of regulations, they cannot be Passed customs inspection smoothly. The customs clearance risks faced by cross-border e-commerce companies in export trade mainly come from the customs regulations of the buyer's location. On the other hand, it may be out of the seller's luck that they take risks in order to obtain profits, make false reports, and fail to report the information of export commodities truthfully, resulting in a series of complex customs clearance risks.\

Information Protection Risk
The protection of online personal information in the RCEP e-commerce rules mainly relies on the domestic legal framework of the contracting parties. In fact, there are differences in the personal information protection policies of RCEP parties, as well as differences in the handling of personal sensitive information and non-personal sensitive information. Cross-border e-commerce companies may collect excessive information without understanding local regulations or Improper handling of information, thereby causing cross-border e-commerce companies to have the risk of violations when collecting and using data containing personal information. Japan attaches great importance to the protection of personal information. As early as 2003, the Japanese National Assembly passed the "Personal Information Protection Law". Regardless of whether the personal information processor is a domestic company or a foreign company, as long as the personal information is obtained when providing goods or services, it will be Subject to Japan's "Personal Information Protection Law", those who violate the law will face severe penalties.

RCEP has a wide range of content and detailed terms, and at the same time pays great attention to consumer rights, data security and personal information security. In addition, Japan's strict supervision of customs, taxation and personal information poses challenges to the compliant operation of cross-border e-commerce enterprises in my country. my country and Japan are very different in terms of economy, cultural customs, etc., and the compliance risk of overseas enterprises has suddenly increased. It is suggested that cross-border e-commerce enterprises should speed up their transformation, explore localized business models, speed up the layout of overseas warehouses, improve their awareness of risk prevention, and formulate targeted compliance business strategies, so as to seize the opportunities brought by RCEP and promote the health of cross-border e-commerce. developing.